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A I  I II  ()  F : 


[HOCH,  CHARLE 


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TITLE: 


NE 


t_-„*.ti-;. 


5? 


AL  TERRITORV 


OFMnrSNET 


PLACE: 

CAM 

DAT  I 

1882 


RIDGE  [MAbb.] 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARGET 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


Master  Negative  # 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


S49.3 

H65 

ln[iap,D. 


I 


£Hoch,Ctiarle3j,       anon. 

Neutral  territory  of  Moresnet. 
Camb.,  [i^ass.]  1332. 

Printeo  for  private  distribution 
Jr.  by  W:Al.  Tucker  .J 


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IMAGE  PLACEMENT:    lA  OT)  IB    IIB  A  —j^ 

DATE     FILMED:__.:iLL6ll/ INITIALS__iJj_i_:. 

HLMEDBY:    RESEARCH  PUBLICATIONS.  INC  WOODBRIDGE.  CT 


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Columbia  College  Library 


Madison  Av.  &  49th   St    New  York. 

Beside  the  main  topic  this  book  also  treats  of 
Subject  No.  On  page    \    Subject  No. 


On  page 


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%gss^^s^^as^s^^ss^i&i^^k 


Vi..-i  A,  ^MiMBll 


MAPOFTHENEUTRALTERRITORYOFMORESNEl 


it 


THE 


NEUTRAL  TERRITORY  OF 
MORESNET 


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PRINTED  FOR  PRIVATE  DISTRIBUTION 


CAMBRIDGE 

PrinteD  at  ttje  Kiticrs^iDe  i3rc60 

1882 


f 


By  the  courteous  permission  of  Mr.  Charles 
Hoch,  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  this  little  mon- 
ograph has  been  translated  from  an  address 
entitled  "  Un  Territoire  Oublie  au  Centre  de 
I'Europe,"  written  by  him,  and  delivered  be- 
fore the  Geographical  Society  of  that  city. 

W.  W.  T. 

Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


V-t 


88850 


THE 


''d^ 


NEUTRAL  TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET. 


The  "  forgotten  territory "  which  forms 
the  subject  of  this  address  is  not  situated  in 
the  midst  of  high  mountains,  nor  is  its  topog- 
raphy or  climate  of  such  a  character  as  to 
render  access  to  it  difficult  or  dangerous, 
which  might  explain  in  part  its  condition ; 
neither  is  it  placed  in  a  vast  and  barren 
desert,  where  its  poverty  protects  it  from 
the  envy  of  stronger  neighbors  ;  nor  is  it  a 
country  remote  from  the  great  ways  of 
travel,  ignorant  of  railways,  and  distant  from 
commercial  and  industrial  centres.  On  the 
contrary,  it  is  found  in  one  of  the  richest  and 
most  important  mining  valleys  of  Europe. 
A  branch  railway  connects  it  with  the  main 
line  from  Cologne  to  Verviers,  and  it  is  two 
miles  from  the  railway  further  to  the  north 


6      NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET. 

which  unites  Aix-la-Chapelle  with  Welken- 
rade. 

This  territory,  belonging  to  no  one,  and 
claimed   by  two  states,  was   not   always  in 
this  condition.     For  a  long  time  it  formed 
part  of  the  duchy  of  Limburg,  and  is  men- 
tioned in  public  documents  as  far  back  as 
1414  under  the  name  of  Kelmis.     This  name 
is  derived  from  the  mineral  calamine,  called 
in  the  patois  of  the  country  "  kelme,"  which 
was  found   there.     Later,  in    1438,   it   was 
known  for  many  years  as  Galmeiberg.     In 
consquence  of  the  discovery  of  another  sim- 
ilar mine  in  that  region  it  was    called   the 
Alten  Galmei-Berg.    From  this  is   derived 
by  abbreviation,  the  name  Altenberg,  which, 
during  the  French  rule,  from  1795  to  1814, 
became  Vieille  Montague,  the  name  of  the 
French-Belgian  company  to  which  the  mines 
belong. 

These  are  not  all  the  changes  of  name 
which  the  country  has  borne.  Towards  the 
close  of  the  French  domination,  it  was 
sparsely  populated,  and  the  mines  were  not 


P 


NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.      7 

worked  to  any  extent ;  it  was  then  annexed 
to  the  commune  of  Moresnet.  After  1814 
and  the  fldl  of  the  French  Empire,  the  dis- 
trict was  not  assigned  to  either  of  the  neigh- 
boring states,  Prussia  and  Holland,  who 
claimed  it,  but  became  an  undivided  terri- 
tory, whose  neutrality  is  recognized. 

It  is  now  known  as  the  Neutral  Territory 
of  Moresnet,  or  Moresnet  Neutral,  to  distin- 
guish it  from  ancient  Moresnet  or  Belgian 
Moresnet,  and  from  new  Moresnet,  which  has 
been  formed  upon  its  southern  boundary, 
and  is  called  Prussian  Moresnet.  It  should 
be  added  that  to  the  people  of  the  country 
its  chief  town  is  known  as  Kelmis,  and  the 
outlying  land  as  Altenberg. 

The  undivided  and  semi-independent  state 
of  the  Neutral  Territory  dates  from  the  year 
1814.  Under  the  French  rtgime,  it  made 
part  of  the  Department  of  the  Ourthe,  of 
which  it  occupied  the  angle  nearly  at  the 
extreme  northeast,  and  belonged  to  the  can- 
ton of  Aubel  and  the  commune  of  Moresnet 
—  localities  now  attached  to  the  kin^^dom  of 


^iSi&isi^&i^^ieiiS^s^Si^:^'*~^'^^^^-''^mMMi 


8      NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET 

Belgium  as  successor  of  the  kingdom  of  Hol- 
land. The  northeasterly  angle  of  the  De- 
partment  of  the  Ourthe,  which  the  Neutral 
Territory  occupied,  was  at  the  point  of  junc- 
tion of  that  department  with  the  French 
departments  of  the  Meuse  on  the  north,  and 
of  the  Koeure  on  the  east. 

When   it  became  a  question  of  dividing 
this  corner  of  the  French  Empire,  the  final 
act  of  the  Congress  of  Vienna  prescribed  in 
Article  25  that  in  the  "  former  Department 
of  the  Ourthe  the  five  cantons  of  St.  Vith, 
Malmedy,  Cronenberg,  Schleiden,  and  Eupen, 
and    the    extreme   point   of  the    canton   of 
Aubel  to  the  south  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  shall 
belong  to  Prussia  ;  and  the  frontier  shall  fol- 
low the  boundaries  of  those  cantons  in  such 
a  manner  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  south 
'  to  the  north  shall  strike  the  said  point  of  the 
canton   of  Aubel,  and  be  continued  to  the 
point  of  contact  of  the  three  ancient  depart- 
ments of  the  Ourthe,  the  Roeure,  and  the 
Meuse." 

In  accordance  with  th^se  provisions,  which 


w 


NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.      9 

were  accepted  by  Holland,  the  cantons  of 
St.  Vith,  Malmedy,  etc.,  as  well  as  the  east- 
ern point  of  the  canton  of  Aubel,  cut  by  a 
line  running  direct  from  north  to  south  from 
the  point  of  junction  of  the  three  former 
French  departments  of  the  Ourthe,  the 
Meuse,  and  the  Roeure,  were  definitely 
assigned  to  Prussia. 

It  was  now  a  question  to  determine  the 
southerly  point  of  this  line,  which,  in  follow- 
ing the  above-named  boundaries,  did  not  co- 
incide with  the  stipulations  in  Article  66  of 
the  same  act  of  the  Congress  of  Vienna, 
which  were  intended  to  define  the  future 
frontier  of  Holland,  now  Belgium.  It  was 
therein  provided  that  "  the  frontier  shall  run 
along  these  limits  to  their  point  of  contact 
with  those  of  the  aforesaid  canton  of  Eupen, 
and  following  in  a  northerly  direction  the 
westerly  boundary  of  this  canton,  leaviu(/  at 
the  right  a  miall  imiion  of  the  ahom  French  can- 
ton of  Aiibel,  shall  meet  at  the  j7oi?it  of  junction 
of  the  three  former  departments  of  the  Ourthe^ 
the  loiver  Ileiise,  and  the  Roeiire!' 


10   NEUTRAL    TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET, 

This  disposition  is  defective,  inasmuch  as 
it  does  not  explain  that,  on  arriving  at  the 
upper  part  of  the  western  limit  of  the  canton, 
of  Eupen,  the  frontier  should  be  inflected  to 
the  right  to  join  the  line  which  intersects 
the  boundary  of  this  canton ;  and  also  be- 
cause it  expressly  provides  that  the  hne 
leading  from  the  upper  extremity  of  the 
western  boundary  of  the  canton  of  Eupen 
should  leave  on  the  right  a  small  portion  of 
the  canton  of  Auhel,  without  stating  that  this 
part  of  the  canton  had  already  been  adjudged  to 
Prussia, 

It  is  evident  that  the  diplomatists  who 
drew  up  the  act  at  Vienna  w^ere  unfortunate 
in  their  maps  of  reference,  which  the  com- 
missioners of  Holland  and  Prussia  fully  re- 
alized when  they  visited  the  ground  to  trace 
the  frontiers  of  their  respective  countries. 
Prussia  adhered  to  Article  66,  and  Holland 
to  Article  25. 

The  commissioners  not  being  able  to  agree, 
nor  the  two  governments  which  they  repre- 
sented, it  resulted  in  a  provisional  arrange- 


U:    ? 


NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.    11 

ment,  entered  into  June  25,  1815,  which  pre- 
scribed that  "  the  line  of  demarcation  shall 
remain  undetermined,  the  commissioners  not 
beino;  of  accord  as  to  the  manner  in  which  a 
division  shall  be  made  of  the  small  part  of 
the  canton  of  Aubel,  which,  according  to  the 
treaty  of  May  31st  and  other  acts  of  the  Con- 
gress of  Vienna,  should  belong  to  Prussia. 
This  difference  of  opinion  shall  be  submitted 
to  the  two  governments,  who  shall  take  such 
measures  to  decide  it  as  they  shall  deem 
wise.  Awaiting  this  decision  [which  has  never 
been  made],  the  provisional  frontier  of  the 
commune  of  Moresnet  shall  be  so  formed 
that  the  part  of  it  lying  at  the  left  of  a 
straight  line  from  the  point  of  contact  of  the 
three  cantons  to  that  of  the  three  depart- 
ments shall  belong  under  all  circumstances 
to  Holland ;  that  the  portion  situated  at  the 
right  of  the  limits  of  the  canton  of  Eupen  in 
a  direct  line  from  south  to  north  to  the 
point  of  contact  of  the  three  departments 
shall  belong  indisputably  to  Prussia ;  and, 
finally,  that  the  part  of  the  said  commune 
situated  between  the  two  lines,  being  the 
only  part  which  can  be  reasonably  contested, 


12   NEUTRAL    TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET 


shall  be  placed  under  a  joint  administration, 
and  shall  not  be  under  the  military  jurisdic- 
tion of  either  power." 

This  provisional  arrangement  created  a 
territory,  the  neutrality  of  which  was  guar- 
anteed by  two  neighboring  states,  whose 
opposing  claims  to  its  possession,  and  the 
consequent  desire  to  make  a  favorable  im- 
pression upon  its  inhabitants,  rendered  the 
burdens  of  administration  very  light  upon 
them.  The  territory  has  a  triangular  form, 
one  side  of  which  extends  three  and  a  half 
miles,  and  the  other  two  and  a  half  miles, 
and  contains  an  area  of  one  thousand  acres. 
It  may  be  asked  why  it  did  not  become 
entirely  independent,  and  did  not  hold  an 
acknowledged  position  in  Europe,  as  a  mini- 
ature republic  or  principality.  The  chief 
reason  is  undoubtedly  to  be  found  in  the 
character  of  its  inhabitants  at  that  time  and 
subsequently. 

In  1816  the  population  amounted  to  only 
200  or  250  persons,  and  w\as  composed  of 
people    of   different    nationalities,   some    of 


NEUTRAL  TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.     13 

whom  spoke  Plattdeutsch,  others  German, 
Flemish,  or  French ;  for  the  territory  bor- 
dered upon  Prussia,  Belgium,  and  Holland. 
Owing  to  the  development  of  the  zinc  mines, 
the  population  rapidly  increased.  In  1841 
it.  counted  500  souls,  and  to-day  numbers 
2,800  to  3,000,  of  w4iom  400  are  descend- 
ants of  the  original  inhabitants,  and  for  this 
reason  are  exempt  from  military  service. 
This  was  a  privilege  enjoyed  by  all  till 
1854,  when  the  Belgian  Governor  in  the 
'territory  summoned  under  the  national  flag 
those  who  owed  allegiance  to  that  country. 
In  1874  Prussia  followed  the  example,  so 
that  one  of  its  important  immunities  has 
disappeared.  Others  still  remain,  which  are 
not  without  value.  For  instance,  the  terri- 
tory pays  to-day  the  same  amount  of  taxes 
as  in  1814,  when  it  ceased  to  be  French  ; 
that  is  to  say,  the  sum  of  $280  annually  for 
the  land  tax,  |67  for  personal  tax,  and  $201 
for  licenses.  The  total  amount  is  divided 
equally  between  Prussia  and  Belgium.  To 
this  small  contribution  should  be  added  the 
tax  of  the  commune,  which  varies  according 
to  its  needs. 


14   NEUTRAL    TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET. 

Merchandise  from  Prussia  and  Belgium  is 
imported  into  the  Neutral  Territory  free  of 
duty,  but  if  reexported  to  those  countries 
it  pays  the  sa-me  amount  at  the  custom- 
house that  foreign  articles  are  subject  to. 

In  spiritual  matters  it  is  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Bishop  of  Liege,  and  under 
the  direct  char^-e  of  a  curate  and  a  vicar. 

Its  civil  and  criminal  processes  are  carried, 
at  the  option  of  the  plaintiff  or  suitor,  before 
the  Prussian  or  the  Belgian  tribunals. 

Till  1841  the  executive  power  was  exer- 
cised by  Commissioners,  but  in  consequence 
of  delays  of  procedure  it  has  been  entrusted 
since  that  date  to  two  Governors,  one  repre- 
senting each  state.  They  appoint  a  Burgo- 
master, selected  alternately  from  Belgian 
and  Prussian  subjects,  who  has  charge  of  the 
civil  and  judicial  administration.  He  is 
assisted  by  a  Communal  Council  composed  of 
ten  members,  a  School  Committee  of  five 
members,  and  a  Bureau  of  Charity  of  twelve 
members.  He  also  has  the  control  of  the 
regular  police. 


J 


NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.   15 

The  territory  is  regulated  by  the  Code 
Napoleon,  as  it  was  in  1814.  The  notaries 
and  bailiffs  from  Prussia  or  Belgium  can 
alike  perform  official  duties  there.  If,  for 
instance,  a  mortgage  deed  is  drawn  up  by  a 
Belgian,  it  is  recorded  in  the  office  in  Ver- 
viers  ;  if  by  a  Prussian,  at  Montjoie.  In  these 
matters  there  is  no  written  agreement  be- 
tween the  governments,  but  the  methods 
are  the  result  of  custom,  based  upon  the  fact 
that  the  territory  is  too  small  to  have 
special  tribunals  and  ministerial  offices. 
The  re2:isters  of  the  civil  state,  written  in 
German,  are  laid  before  the  court  of  first 
instance  at  Aix-la-Chapelle.  We  would  add 
that  the  territorv  has  five  schools,  and  that 
the  Prussian  subjects  residing  there  have  the 
use  of  the  schools  in  Prussian  Moresnet. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  brief  statement 
that  the  neutral  territory  of  Moresnet  enjoys 
all,  or  nearly  all,  the  advantages  of  independ- 
ence without  its  burdens,  and  that  Prussia 
and  Belgium  accord  every  possible  favor 
to  its  inhabitants  almost  gratuitously. 


16   NEUTRAL    TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET. 

It  would  seem  a  matter  of  surprise  that 
this  Uttle  section  of  earth,  which  is  not  of 
sufficient  importance  to  prevent  a  settle- 
ment between  its  claimants,  should  be  al- 
lowed to  remain  under  a  temporary  govern- 
ment which  has  already  lasted  more  than 
sixty-five  years. 

In  explanation,  it  may  be  stated  that 
neither  of  the  neighboring  states  can  secure 
exclusive  possession  of  its  rich  zinc  mines. 
In  1421  these  mines  belonged  to  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  and  afterwards  to  the  Dukes  of 
Limburg,  who  rented  them  to  Philip  the 
Good,  Duke  of  Burgundy ;  but  under  these 
managers  they  acquired  no  success.  Under 
the  French  Republic  they  were  declared 
national  property,  and  were  worked  as  such, 
and  in  1805  were  leased.  Some  years  later, 
France  having  promulgated  a  law,  by  virtue 
of  which  persons  having  leases  of  mines 
belonging  to  the  state  became  proprietors 
of  them,  the  lessee  of  "  Vieille  Montague  "  no 
longer  paid  rent.  But  this  did  not  prevent 
his  bankruptcy,  and  the  property  passed  into 
the  hands  of  his  creditors   and  a  citizen  of 


NEUTRAL    TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET.    17 

Liege,  who  worked  it  on  joint  account.  At 
the  downfall  of  the  French  Empire  the 
mines  were  placed  under  the  temporary 
management  of  Holland  and  Prussia,  who 
refused  to  recognize  the  right  of  ownership 
acquired  by  tenants  under  the  French  law, 
and  in  1821  made  a  demand  for  back  rent 
since  1812.  The  matter  was  carried  before 
the  tribunal  at  Liege,  which  gave  judgment 
in  favor  of  the  governments.  The  execution 
of  the  judgment,  having  met  with  opposition, 
was  suspended.  In  the  mean  time  the  Bel- 
gian revolution  of  1830  broke  out.  Belgium 
became  the  successor  of  Holland's  ria«hts 
and  interests  in  Moresnet^  and  declared  it- 
self opposed  to  the  decision  of  the  court 
at  Liege.  Prussia,  on  the  other  hand,  per- 
sisted in  demanding  the  rents  in  arrears,  but 
was  thwarted  in  the  attempts  to  recover 
them  by  the  neutrality  of  the  territory  and 
the  opposition  of  Belgium. 

The  existence  of  Moresnet  as  a  neutral 
territory  depends  upon  the  duration  of  its 
mines.     When  they  are  exhausted  the  inter- 


18  NEUTRAL   TERRITORY  OF  MORESNET. 

est  of  Prussia  and  Belgium  therein  will 
cease,  as  there  will  not  be  sufficient  value 
in  the  lands  to  warrant  the  continuance  of 
the  present  form  of  government. 


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